Reading Time: 8 minutes LeRoy Lawson writes that his book about his son’s suicide “contains both sides of a conversation three decades long; [Lane] talks first in his final communication to us. Then I answer him. He writes with confidence, at peace with his decision and comfortable with his reasons for it. I am not so sure of myself, either as father or as minister . . .”
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Bill Hauser Overflowed with Joy, Energy, and Love
Reading Time: 8 minutes Ozark Christian College President Matt Proctor shares a remembrance of Bill Hauser, who preached at New Testament Christian Church during Matt’s growing-up years in Keokuk, Iowa. “When you say the word ‘preacher,’ the first picture that pops into my mind is always his,” Proctor wrote. “He preached loud, and sweat poured off him” . . . Hauser died Feb. 21. . . .
March 10 Application | ‘Lowercase Leaders’
Reading Time: 3 minutes Uppercase leaders demand attention; lowercase leaders quietly do God’s work. . . .
‘The Fool of God’ Introduction
Reading Time: 7 minutes A historical novel about Alexander Campbell has been unexpectedly helpful to us . . .
The Way We Were
Reading Time: 4 minutes What can we learn by reviewing Restoration Movement history? . . .
Disciple Heritage Fellowship
Reading Time: 8 minutes Some churches have rejected a turn toward more progressive theology . . .
Understanding the Disciples’ Decline
Reading Time: 6 minutes Why the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) have declined since opting to become a denomination . . .
The Resurrection: A Personal Encounter
The Restoration Movement: A History of Separation
Reading Time: 8 minutes Exploring the pivotal issues that gave rise to two major divisions (and a number of smaller ones) . . .
The ‘Only God’ Story of Mountain Christian Church
Reading Time: 10 minutes A 200-year-old church in the Northeast bursting with life, vibrancy, growth, and impact!
Marriage Happens Every Day!
Reading Time: 5 minutes The Significance of Happenings Leading to Happiness
The Solomon Foundation’s Impact
Reading Time: 5 minutes A bottom line measured in outreach, church attendance, and baptisms . . .
THROWBACK THURSDAY: ‘Ask and It Shall Be Given’ (1954)
Reading Time: 6 minutes “When we pray we do not always get precisely what we ask for,” Max Ward Randall wrote in 1954. “What are some of the reasons?” . . .
March 3 Lesson | Unity
Reading Time: 4 minutes To say that the church in Roman Corinth had trouble with unity would be a gross understatement. They were divided over leaders, the nature of the gospel, the use of Christian freedom . . .
March 3 Application | ‘Unity and You’
Reading Time: 3 minutes Are we willing to make Christian unity a personal goal? Practically speaking, how can we encourage the unity of God’s people? . . .
THROWBACK THURSDAY: ‘The Apostle Paul’s Top 21 Leadership Character Traits’ (2014)
Reading Time: 2 minutes For his “Best Practices” feature in 2014, former editor Mike Mack introduced a listicle by writing: “Acts 20 contains 21 character traits of the apostle Paul. Look over this list, and then take time to assess yourself as a leader.” . . .
Christian Ham Radio: More Than Just a Hobby
Reading Time: 4 minutes The Christian Amateur Radio Fellowship (CARF) formed at the North American Christian Convention during the summer of 1966 as a way to promote fellowship among Independent Christian Churches and Churches of Christ, our Christian colleges, and as a service to missionaries. CARF has a website but no headquarters. The fellowship has hundreds of members in North America and around the world. . . .
Helping a Brother
Reading Time: 2 minutes As Christians, we have a responsibility to care for each other. . . .
Lessons Learned on a Cruise Ship
Reading Time: 6 minutes Building community is essential to our spiritual journey in the church. We are called to be “family to each other.” On a recent cruise, I found hundreds of crew members from more than 75 nationalities building community and becoming family to one another. . . .
THROWBACK THURSDAY: ‘The Future of Johnson Bible College—Will It Survive Its Founders?’ (1924)
Reading Time: 6 minutes In 1924, Ashley Johnson, the founder of what is now Johnson University, wrote: “Nine years ago I broke down completely and was under the care of a physician. While I waited in bed for two months, Mrs. Johnson kept the work going and came nearer freeing it from debt than ever before. During these nine years I have fought for my life and the work which God gave me to do with all my heart.” . . .
Feb. 18 Lesson | The Unbelief of the Pharisees
Reading Time: 4 minutes The secular proverb, “There are none so blind as those who will not see,” is certainly true. That proverb would describe many of the Pharisees of Jesus’ day. . . .
Feb. 18 Application | ‘Blind Spots’
Reading Time: 3 minutes How could they miss it? How could the Pharisees interact so closely with Jesus but fail to recognize him as God’s Son? His miracles weren’t done in a corner. . . .
Faithfulness
Reading Time: 2 minutes God has always placed a premium on faithfulness. . . .
IDES Helped Close to 700,000 People During 2023, Its 50th Year
Reading Time: 5 minutes Christian Standard asked IDES to share a rundown of the organization’s disaster relief efforts during 2023, its 50th year. There were three major U.S. disasters and three major international disasters during the year to which IDES dedicated its resources, expertise, and manpower. But it is continuing to help with some pre-2023 disasters. All totaled, IDES helped close to 700,000 people . . .
THROWBACK THURSDAY: ‘Integrity in the Pulpit’ (2005)
Reading Time: 7 minutes “Over the past several years, cheating and plagiarism have surfaced as hot topics in academia, the news media, and more recently, the church,” Dean M. Christensen wrote in 2005. “Several high-profile cases involve pastors of large churches who resigned, or were fired or suspended for repeated instances of ‘borrowing’ sermons from various sources without attribution” . . .
Former NACC Executive Director Allan Dunbar Dies
Reading Time: 8 minutes Allan Dunbar, 84, who served as senior minister with Bow Valley Christian Church (formerly called Cambrian Heights Christian Church) in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, for 20-plus years, then served as president of Puget Sound Christian College in Seattle, and completed his professional career as executive director of the North American Christian Convention, died Jan. 28, 2024, in Kalispell, Mont., where he had resided for several years. . . .
News Briefs for Jan. 31
Reading Time: 2 minutes Several conferences and gatherings are planned over the next few months, including the Pressing On Conference (April 9-11), e2: effective elders’ LeadWell conference (March 15-16), the Fred B. Craddock Lectures on Preaching (March 27), FAME’s Night of Hope Banquet (April 27), and the Spiritual Formation Leadership Summit (in April and May). . . .
An Exciting Church Plant in Eugene, Ore.
Reading Time: 4 minutes Despite adverse weather conditions, 485 people showed up for the first public worship service of Generations Church in Eugene, Ore. The church is multi-generational, though largely made up of University of Oregon students. A campus ministry veteran and Eugene native is helping lead this effort. . . .
Feb. 4 Application | ‘The First Thing’
Reading Time: 3 minutes After Andrew met Jesus, the first thing he did was tell someone else about the Lord. Unfortunately, for many Christians that’s the last thing we do. How can we put disciple making at the top of our priority list?
News Briefs for Jan. 24
Reading Time: 2 minutes A book by RENEW.org scholar Matthew Bates was selected as the top title in the Popular Theology category of Christianity Today’s 2024 Book Awards. . . . Also a brief about a tragic auto accident in Illinois and a preview of the National Preaching Summit March 11-12 in Indianapolis. . . .